Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a condition that impacts many people’s lives. When you have incontinence, you may experience bladder control issues and leak urine. This leakage is often uncontrollable and can negatively impact your life.
There are several types of urinary incontinence, including:
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stress incontinence – when urine leaks out at times when your bladder is under pressure; for example, when you cough or laugh
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urge (urgency) incontinence – when urine leaks as you feel a sudden, intense urge to pee, or soon afterwards
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overflow incontinence (chronic urinary retention) – when you're unable to fully empty your bladder, which causes frequent leaking
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total incontinence – when your bladder cannot store any urine at all, which causes you to pass urine constantly or have frequent leaking
It's also possible to have a mixture of both stress and urge urinary incontinence.
Causes of urinary incontinence:
Stress incontinence is usually the result of the weakening of or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter.
Urge incontinence is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.
Overflow incontinence is often caused by an obstruction or blockage in your bladder, which prevents it from emptying fully.
Total incontinence may be caused by a problem with the bladder from birth, a spinal injury, or a small, tunnel like hole that can form between the bladder and a nearby area (fistula).
Certain things can increase the chances of urinary incontinence, including:
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pregnancy and vaginal birth
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obesity
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a family history of incontinence
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increasing age – although incontinence is not an inevitable part of ageing
Incontinence Products
Incontinence pads and other products and devices can make life easier for temporary or long time use.
A wide range of products and devices are available for urinary incontinence.
They include:
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pads and pants
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bed and chair protection
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catheters and penile sheaths
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skincare and hygiene products
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specially adapted clothing and swimwear